Musical instrument



Dec. 20, 1932. A. STYSLOWSKY MUS ICAL INSTRUMENT Filed April 18, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 flndrezufi t ysl jf INVENTOR ATTORN EY Dec. 20, 1932. A. STYSLOWSKY 1,391,848

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed April 18, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 flndrewfityslowsiry INVENTOR ATTOR N EY Dec. 20-, 1932. A. STYSLOWSKY 3 MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed April l8, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 flndrewj t yslowshiy INVENTOR ATTO R N EY Patented Dec. 20, 1932 UNITE STATES? PATENT OFFICE ANDREW STYSLOWSKY, F ASTORIA, NEW YORK MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Application filed April 18, 1932. Serial No. 605,956.

The invention relates to a musical instrument and more particularly to stringed muslcal instruments. Theprimary object of the invention is the provision of an instrument of this character,

. wherein by the use of levers manually operable the strings of the instrument will be automatically picked in the playing thereof, the pickers for the strings being operated through the medium ofa motor-which is susceptible of beingstarted and stopped by a foot pedal controlling an electric switch 1ncluded in the circuit tothe motor, the instrument in its entirety being of novel construc- 5 tion and in the playing'thereof simulates a mandolin or mandolin quartet. I

Another object of the invention is the provision of a musical instrument of this char- 9 acter, wherein the same is operated in a manner simulating the operatlon of a piano yet the instrument in the playing thereof resembles closely the sound of a mandolin or mandolin quartet, the strings of the'instrument being picked through mechanism operated directly from a motor and these pickers are manually shiftable for action upon the strings so that a repetition of picking of each string may be had at the will of the operator of the instrument, the latter being under pos1-' tive control of the operator. p

A further object of the invention is the provision of a musical instrument of this character which is extremely simple in construction, thoroughlyreliable and efiicient in r its operation, strong, durable, neat and attractive in appearance, manually controlled, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in 'theclaims hereunto appended.

Inthe accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through themusical instrument constructed in accordance with the invention, showing by full lines the normal position of one key thereof and by dotted lines the shifted position of suchkey and adjuncts.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line of Figure 1. j

Figure 4 is a detail elevation of one of the string pickers, the same being partly in section.

.through the worm screw driver for the pickers.

Figure 11 is a perspective View of one of the hangers of the instrument. I

Figure 12 is a perspective View of a muffler member. I

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding. parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A

designates generally an upright case of boxlike formation, the same being made preferably from wood although it may be made from. any other material and of any approved shape and design. Arranged on the front of the case A is a music rack B, this beingof any desirable design and construction.

v, Arranged within the case A spaced from the top and bottom thereof on the inner face of the back thereof are string pin bases 10, these having fitted therein adjustable pins 11, supporting vertically disposed spacedv parallel strings 12, each being twisted at its end portion 13 upon the keys 11 common thereto and upon adj ustmentof the keys the strings may be tuned as is common in stringed instruments. V I

Located intermediate of the case A within the same are transversely disposed spaced bars 14 and 15 respectively having ournaled therein picker spindles, each including the sections 16 and 17 respectively and these spindles are not only rotatably mounted within the bars 14 and 15 but also slidably fitted therein for movement transversely of the case A. Each section 16 is formed with a reduced threaded end 18 on which is ad justably engaged the right-angular eye 19 of a picker or picking finger 20, the eye 19 being adjustably held by binding nuts 21 threaded on the end 18. The picker or picking finger is adapted to be brought into engaging position with or disengaging position from its companion string 12 and when in engaging position, upon rotation of the spindle, will pick the string in the playing of the instrument.

Arranged between the bars 14 and 15 is a worm drive screw 22, the latter adapted for meshing engagement with worm pinions or gears 23, these fitted upon the squared portions 24 of the sections 16 and such sections are detachably coupled with the sections 17 by the threaded coupling 25. Suitably supported within the case A at its bottom is an electric motor 26 which through its drive pulley 27 operates a belt 28, the same being trained over a pulley formation 29 on the screw 22 for the driving of the latter. The motor circuit 30 includes therein a suitable switch operable from a foot pedal 31 projected exteriorly through the front of the case A, the front of said case being provided with a clearance 32 for the pedal, the electric circuit 30 for the motor being normally open and is closed by depressing the pedal 31 on the operator pushing downwardly upon the pedal by the foot of such operator.

Arranged within the case A at its top are hanger bars 33 and 34 respectively with which are connected the hangers 35 for suspension shafts 36 and 37, these also being mounted in bearings 38 at opposite ends of the case A. Upon the shafts 36 and 37 are arranged the short and long rockers 39 and 40 respectively, these being formed with levers or keys 41 projected exteriorly of the case A through the front thereof and through clearances 42 therefor. Each of the rockers 39 has formed therein a fork 43 in which is fitted a universal coupling 44 having swiveled therein the sections 17 of the companion spindle for the picker or picking finger 20, each section 17 having its swiveled connection formed as at 45 and each universal cou- .pling 44 includes a split block having the slots 46 in the outer side of such block, which slots are engaged by the screws 47 carried in the fork 43. It will be seen that on depressing the key or lever-41 of each rocker 39 the spindle of the picker or picking finger 20 will be shifted so as to bring the worm gear or pinion 23 in mesh with the screw 22, its gear or pinion being normally out of mesh therewith and upon such engagement the spindle 17 will be operated for rotation to have the picker or picking finger 20 of such spindle active upon the strings 12 of the instrument for the playing thereof.

Each of the rockers 40 is formed with an opening 48 intermediate thereof in which is mounted the universal coupling 49 having swiveled thereto its companion spindle at the section 17 of the same and in this fashion on operating the key or lever 41 of the rocker 40 the pinion or gear 23 of such spindle will be thrown into mesh with the screw 22. The rockers 39 at their upper ends carry leaf springs 50 which have t eir uppermost ends bearing against the bars 33 and 34 and these springs serve to normally hold the rockers in a position for the disengagement of the gears or pinions 23 from the screw 22 as is clearly shown in Figure l of the drawin and in such position of the spindles thepic ers or picking fingers 20 are removed from the strings 12 of the instrumentso as to be ineffective upon the strings.

To operate upon each string 12 is a mufiler 51 pivoted upon a shaft 52 mounted within the case A, while pivoted to the rockers 39 an d 40 are plungers or actuator pins 53 adapted on the shifting of the rockers for the playing of the strings to retract the mufiiers 51 from the springs, these mufllers being normalm5 ly in engagement with the strings to silence the same. The bar 14 carries abutments 54 in the path of the mufilers 51 to limit the receding of the same from the strings 12 under the action of the pins 53 which are slidably fitted in the bar 14.

In the playing of the instrument an operator selectively actuates the keys 41 and the motor 26 is started by operating the foot pedal 31. On actuating the keys 41 the pickers or picking fingers 20 are moved into playing engagement with the strings 12 and simultaneously therewith the mufilers 51 are receded from the strings and thus on the engagementof the gears or pinions 23 with the screw 22 driven from the motor 26 the instrument will be played according to the skill of the operator thereof. As long as any one key 41 is depressed the picker or picking finger 20 will be in engaging relation to its string 12 so that such string will be constantly picked for the sounding of the same. The spindles of the pickers or picking fingers 20 are driven directly from the motor 26 and.

the action of the instrument is stopped by releasing pressure upon the pedal 31 which opens the switch in the circuit 30 to the motor 26 and thus stopping the same.

WVhat is claimed is v 1. A musical instrument of the character described comprising a case, vibratory strings supported within said case at the back thereof, spaced bars arranged transversely of said case, picker spindles slidably and rotatably supported in said bars, each spindle including separably connected sections, worm pinions engaged and held fast between the sections of the respective spindles, a worm drive screw j ournaled in the case and engageable by the worm pinions, picker fingers adjustably coupled with the spindles and engageable with the vibratory strings, hangers supported in the case, suspension shafts carried by said hangers, long and short rockers arranged on said suspension shafts and having actuator keys projected outwardly of the case beyond the front thereof, forks formed on the rockers, universal couplings fitted in the forks and having swiveled therewith the said spindles, and power means connectedwith the worm drive screw.

2. A musical instrument of the character described comprising a case, vibratory strings supported within said case at the back there;

of, spaced bars arranged transversely of said case, picker spindles slidably and rotatably supported in said bars, each spindle including separably connected sections, worm pinions engaged and held fast between the sections of the respective spindles, a worm drive screw journaled in the case and engageable by the worm pinions, picker fingers adjustably coupled with the spindles and engageable with the vibratory strings, hangers supported in the case, suspension shafts carried by said hangers, long and short rockers arranged on said suspension shafts and having actuator keys projected outwardly of the case beyond the front thereof, forks formed on the rockers, universal couplings fitted in the forks and having swiveled therewith the said spindles, power means connected with the a worm drive screw, mufllers normally engaging the strings,'and plungers pivoted tothe rockers for releasing the mufllers from the strings when the worm pinions are in mesh with the worm drive screw.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

ANDREW STYSLOWSKY. 

